MT. AIRY, Ga. — The Habersham Ninth Grade Academy gym was filled with conversation, questions and hands-on demonstrations Thursday as freshmen rotated between tables staffed by local businesses, public safety agencies and colleges during the school’s annual Career Day.
According to school counselor Christy Keef, 39 organizations participated, giving students an early introduction to career pathways available in Habersham County and beyond.
Principal Maria Waters said the goal is to expose students to those opportunities early in their high school careers.
“To give students exposure to businesses and our local schools so they can learn at a young age what Habersham has to offer,” Waters said.
Waters said starting that process as freshmen helps students begin setting goals and thinking intentionally about their futures.
“We want them to start thinking about it now so they can begin setting goals and planning for the future,” she said.
Students moved throughout the gym, speaking one-on-one with employers, collecting information and learning about careers ranging from public safety and utilities to banking, health care and higher education.
Participating organizations included local government and emergency services agencies such as the Cornelia Police Department, Habersham County Sheriff’s Office and Habersham County Emergency Services; major employers like Fieldale Farms, Georgia Power and ZF Gainesville; and colleges and financial institutions including North Georgia Technical College, Piedmont University, Toccoa Falls College and Peach State Federal Credit Union, among others.
Habersham County School Superintendent Patrick Franklin said events like Career Day play a key role in helping students begin thinking about their futures early.
“I think the earlier you get students thinking about what’s out there, the better,” Franklin said. “Our goal is to support whatever path they choose — whether that’s college, technical school or going straight into the workforce. This helps spark that interest and shows them the opportunities available, from internships to work-based learning and beyond.”
For participating organizations, the event also serves as a way to invest in the next generation of workers.
“We’re a strong supporter of the school system,” said John Fair, business executive director for Peach State Federal Credit Union. “We’re a teachers credit union by trade, so we support all the school systems within our umbrella.”
Fair said students may not realize how many entry points exist within a single industry.
“We look at candidates with a range of experience, from a high school diploma to a college degree, depending on the position,” he said. “That can include roles like tellers, member service representatives, loan officers and positions in operations, with opportunities to advance from there.”
He encouraged students to begin exploring their interests early and seek guidance as they consider their options.
“I would tell them to start by talking with their parents about their interests,” Fair said. “Some people want to work outside, others want an office job. From there, explore those options. We’re involved in mentorships, so students can come see what we do and learn more about different career paths.”
Waters said that exposure to a wide range of opportunities is exactly what the school hopes students take away from the event.
“We want them to see the possibilities and start thinking about their future,” she said. “That means working toward graduation, but also thinking beyond high school. That could be college, technical school or going straight into the workforce. This exposes them to a variety of choices.”
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